Gary awards: blurbs of unknown soldiers

Gary awards: blurbs of unknown soldiers

NEXT TUESDAY, as you may have heard, Oscar nominations will be announced. It’s a great opportunity for the industry professionals to express their thoughts on the year’s films, but why can’t everybody else have a chance to make their opinions heard?

Ah, that’s where the studios show their dedication to public service. A quick scan of newspapers reveals movie ads that are brimming with praise from people who are unknown, and yet the studios embrace their opinions.

For example, Maria Salas of CBS Telenoticias hails “Starship Troopers” as “One of the best science fiction movies ever!” and “Tomorrow Never Dies” as “The best Bond film ever!”

It doesn’t matter that most moviegoers have no idea who she is. She liked those movies and somebody at the studios respected her views. Maria, like all those other talented critics, is speaking for the people when she hails “The Postman” as “Breathtaking” — and isn’t that kind of praise worth almost as much as an Oscar nomination?

In honor of the best blurbs of the past few months, we offer the semi-annual Gary Awards (named after distinguished but retired L.A. TV critic Gary Franklin). Congratulations to all you critics. You’re the voice of the people.